A flamboyant mezzo-soprano (who could also sing meaty soprano roles), she overcame racial prejudice to become one of opera’s first, and biggest, Black stars.
Category: Opera
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Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels Win the Pulitzer Prize for Music
Giddens said that the success of their opera “Omar” proves that “nobody has the lock on being a composer.”
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Review: At the Met, a New ‘Don Giovanni’ Has a Stark Vitality
An excellent cast brings heat to Ivo van Hove’s austere, agile staging of Mozart’s classic, starring Peter Mattei and conducted by Nathalie Stutzmann.
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Mo Willems Finds Yet Another Way to Entertain Kids: Opera
The beloved author of children’s books is experimenting with new forms, alongside starry collaborators, at the Kennedy Center.
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Europe’s Opera Stages Next Season: What to See
Among our critic’s recommendations are multiple “Ring” cycles, a premiere by Ellen Reid and the soprano Lise Davidsen in Strauss’s “Salome.”
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A Drone Opera, Brought to You by General Dynamics? A Company Clarifies.
“Grounded,” a new work about the psychological toll of drone warfare, drew scrutiny after its presenter, Washington National Opera, advertised the support of a major military contractor.
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When La Scala Is Sold Out, You Can Still Get In (Online)
The opera house’s new streaming service provides live and on-demand performances, as well as extras like backstage glimpses and educational programs.
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Dvorak’s Opera ‘Rusalka’ Prepares to Debut at La Scala in Milan
The opera by Antonin Dvorak about a water nymph’s journey into the human world, first performed in 1901, is making its debut at La Scala in June.
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How an Architect Gave La Scala a 21st-Century Update
Mario Botta, who just finished leading a second round of updates to the 18th-century opera house in Milan, discussed his work and his inspiration.
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Putting the Brutality of a Prize Fight on the Met Opera Stage
Terence Blanchard’s “Champion,” about the fighter Emile Griffith, is the rare opera to engage with sports. A boxing consultant helped keep it gritty.